Chatroom

March 17, 2011

Chatroom

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2011 The creator of an online chat room is, unbeknownst to the other four members he allows in, a suicide-obsessed teen sociopath intent on manipulating one of them into, um, logging off. It’s a mildly interesting premise if that’s what floats your boat, but director Hideo Nakata (Ringu), probably […]

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2011

Chat Room: ©2010 RUBY FILMS (CHATROOM) LTD, CHANNEL FOUR TELEVISION CORPORATION, UK FILM COUNCILE & NOTTING HILL FILMS LIMITED

The creator of an online chat room is, unbeknownst to the other four members he allows in, a suicide-obsessed teen sociopath intent on manipulating one of them into, um, logging off. It’s a mildly interesting premise if that’s what floats your boat, but director Hideo Nakata (Ringu), probably envisioning filming in London and in English and then reverse-importing it as a way to revitalize J-horror, fails to realize it. Rotten acting, lame script, dreary storyline, poor pacing, cheap sets. The director delves only occasionally into the potentially fascinating online/offline personas of his characters.